[Ultrastructural findings in the intrahepatic bile ducts in chronic hepatitis B]

All 14 cases of mildly active chronic type B hepatitis (serological diagnosis was confirmed by light microscopy) showed inextensive ultrastructural changes of the epithelium in small bile ducts and proliferating ductules with basement membrane lesion and inflammatory infiltration. Some peripheric bile ducts swelled lacking microvilli ond narrowing their lumina by a dense border. The findings were more frequent in two biopses with substantial periportal fibrosis.